An assessment of the Arctic Ocean in a suite of interannual CORE-II simulations. Part I: Sea ice and solid freshwater
The Arctic Ocean simulated in fourteen global ocean-sea ice models in the framework of the Coordinated Ocean-ice Reference Experiments, phase II (CORE II) is analyzed. The focus is on the Arctic sea ice extent, the solid freshwater (FW) sources and solid freshwater content (FWC). Available observations are used for model evaluation. The variability of sea ice extent and solid FW budget is more consistently reproduced than their mean state in the models. The descending trend of September sea ice extent is well simulated in terms of the model ensemble mean. Models overestimating sea ice thickness tend to underestimate the descending trend of September sea ice extent. The models underestimate the observed sea ice thinning trend by a factor of two. When averaged on decadal time scales, the variation of Arctic solid FWC is contributed by those of both sea ice production and sea ice transport, which are out of phase in time. The solid FWC decreased in the recent decades, caused mainly by the reduction in sea ice thickness. The models did not simulate the acceleration of sea ice thickness decline, leading to an underestimation of solid FWC trend after 2000. The common model behavior, including the tendency to underestimate the trend of sea ice thickness and March sea ice extent, remains to be improved
Keyword(s)
Arctic Ocean, Sea ice, Freshwater, CORE II atmospheric forcing
Wang Qiang, Ilicak Mehmet, Gerdes Ruediger, Drange Helge, Aksenov Yevgeny, Bailey David A., Bentsen Mats, Biastoch Arne, Bozec Alexandra, Boening Claus, Cassou Christophe, Chassignet Eric, Coward Andrew C., Curry Beth, Danabasoglu Gokhan, Danilov Sergey, Fernandez Elodie, Fogli Pier Giuseppe, Fujii Yosuke, Griffies Stephen M., Iovino Doroteaciro, Jahn Alexandra, Jung Thomas, Large William G., Lee Craig, Lique Camille, Lu Jianhua, Masina Simona, Nurser A. J. George, Rabe Benjamin, Roth Christina, Salas y Melia David, Samuels Bonita L., Spence Paul, Tsujino Hiroyuki, Valcke Sophie, Voldoire Aurore, Wang Xuezhu, Yeager Steve G. (2016). An assessment of the Arctic Ocean in a suite of interannual CORE-II simulations. Part I: Sea ice and solid freshwater. Ocean Modelling. 99. 110-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2015.12.008, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00307/41812/